Overview
Offered as either a hardtop coupe or a ragtop convertible Volante, the 2021 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera is a luxury sports car with style to spare. Superleggera means “superlight” in Italian, but there’s nothing light about this grand tourer. Under its sculpted hood is a 715-hp V-12 engine which can propel the DBS Superleggera on to a 211-mph top speed—but it’s also just as enjoyable when cruising at a more relaxed pace along the French Riviera. Although it’s offered at around the same price as a Ferrari 488 or a McLaren 720S, the DBS Superleggera’s handling isn’t nearly as sharp as those supercars’. Instead, the Aston encourages you to occasionally slow down and be seen.
What’s New for 2021?
Aston Martin has made no discernible changes to the DBS Superleggera for 2021, other than introducing a limited-production 007 Edition model to celebrate the launch of James Bond’s latest adventure, No Time to Die. The DBS Superleggera itself is set to star alongside Daniel Craig’s Bond and a cast of four-wheeled heroes including the Land Rover Defender and the Aston Martin Valhalla hypercar when the movie launches next year.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Choosing the hardtop coupe or the softtop Volante convertible is a choice best left to the individual who’s writing the check. Aston Martin offers a plethora of customization options for the DBS, so we challenge you to create a distinct look that’ll help the car stand out at concours car shows in 50 years.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Superleggera (“superlight” in Italian) is perhaps not the best descriptor for this Aston; “superquick” might be more accurate, with a claimed zero-to-60-mph time of 3.2 seconds for the coupe and a 211-mph top speed for both coupe and convertible. A twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V-12 engine makes 715 horsepower and drives the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic; mash the gas pedal and the DBS takes off like a Saturn V rocket. Encounter some twisty roads and the DBS is rewarding—if challenging—to drive quickly. The ride is compliant over rough pavement, but don’t expect the same level of refinement as in a Mercedes-Benz S-class.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Like other high-powered exotic sports cars, the DBS Superleggera isn’t particularly fuel efficient, but its 22-mpg highway fuel-economy rating from the EPA puts it ahead of rivals such as the Ferrari F8 Tributo (19 mpg highway) and the Lamborghini Huracán (18 mpg highway). We haven’t had the chance to test the DBS’s fuel efficiency on our 200-mile highway fuel economy test, but if we ever do, we’ll update this story with results.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The DBS Superleggera is a grand-touring sports car and as such comes standard with plenty of luxuries to make your trip comfortable. Leather-wrapped power-adjustable sports seats with heat and memory settings are standard. The cabin can be styled with several different types of trim, including open-pore ash wood, carbon fiber, or satin-finished chrome. We aren’t sure how many carry-on suitcases will fit inside the DBS’s trunk because, unfortunately, we’ve not had one in our office for testing. But Aston Martin will sell you a four-piece custom luggage set that’s even color-matched to the interior of your specific car.
Infotainment and Connectivity
All DBS Superleggera models come with an 8.0-inch infotainment display with navigation, as well as Bluetooth phone and audio streaming connectivity. The infotainment interface itself is a lightly reskinned version of Mercedes-Benz’s COMAND software; a click wheel and touchpad are provided on the center console to navigate the menus, and it’s a fairly intuitive system overall. A nine-speaker stereo is standard, but buyers can upgrade to a Bang & Olufsen setup.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has crash-tested a DBS Superleggera, and it’s unlikely that either agency will. As far as driver-assistance features are concerned, Aston Martin offers few such items on the DBS. Key safety features include:
- Standard front and rear parking sensors
- Standard 360-degree exterior camera system
- Standard airbags and electronic stability control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
As a boutique automaker, Aston Martin offers a unique warranty package that consists of a straight three-year protection policy that doesn’t expire at a specific mileage. Buyers of the DBS Superleggera will be stuck paying for their own dealer maintenance visits, however, as the brand offers no complimentary scheduled maintenance policy as standard.
- Limited warranty covers three years with unlimited miles during that time period
- Powertrain warranty covers three years with unlimited miles during that time period
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance